Wednesday, June 28, 2017

A New Island Just Appeared Off the Coast of North Carolina—And It Looks Stunning

A New Island Just Appeared Off the Coast of North Carolina—And It Looks Stunning

Carly Breit
Photo credit: Chad Koczera
Seashell collectors, beach goers, and explorers: pack your bags. A new island appeared-practically overnight-off the coast of Cape Point in Buxton, North Carolina, and it may not be there for long.
The new island used to be a small hump, and now it's about a mile long and three football fields wide, according to Travel and Leisure. It's attracting locals, photographers, travelers, and more visitors who hope to see it before it possibly disappears again.
"It was just a little bump in April," visitor Janice Regan told The Virginian Pilot. Her grandson, Caleb, called it "Shelly Island" after they found tons of pristine, untouched shells while exploring it on Memorial Day.
It's already become a popular spot, but because of powerful currents between the point and the new island, getting there is a dangerous feat. Dave Hallac, the superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, advised against walking there or swimming across water, which is home to a strong current, according to The Virginian Pilot.
The area has always been a popular fishing spot, so discarded fishing hooks could pose even more danger. Not to mention 5-foot long sharks and huge stingrays that are known to hunt in those waters.
The island may disappear just as quickly as it appeared, or it could expand and connect to the tip of Cape Point. The sand shrinks and expands depending on currents and storms, so no one knows just what will happen to this unpredictable island.
Visitors are exploring while they can, despite the warnings that it could be dangerous. Travis Phillips paddled a rubber raft through a stiff current to get there. "I love that island," Travis told The Virginian Pilot. "That's where all the shells are."
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